I want to encourage everyone to explore local craft beer. You might be surprised at what you'll find. Sure, there are the well-known craft brewers who distribute regionally or even nationwide, but sometimes they're really good brews are hard to find.

I regularly sample local brews at pubs just to see what they're up to and what kind of styles they're brewing. Today, I'm trying out the first bottled offerings (draft only until now) from 903 Brewers in Sherman, TX: (1) Sasquatch Chocolate Milk Stout, (2) The Chosen One Coconut Ale and (3) Sugar on Top IPA. All of them are solid and the stout and IPA are very good. The locals have taken to blending (like a black and tan) Sasquatch and The Chosen One and they call it, "Almond Joy." I tried it too and it's pretty good.

Take a look around at what is around. In Maryland, the laws have change to make it much easier for breweries to serve directly to the public. I tend to hit the small places. I can get the big brewery's beer on tap anyplace, some of the small ones are very limited on where you can try their beer.

Heavy Seas has great beer. Stop at their taphouse for their latest beer and one of their stable beers on cask. And no, not a small brewery.
Jailbreak Brewing Company does a lot of experimenting. A lot of very interesting brews.
Falling Branch Brewery, a small 4 person operation north of Bel Air that is on their farm. Open just on Saturday and they are always packed.
Independent Brewing is in Bel Air, I've never had a beer from them that I didn't like.
South County Brewing in Fawn Grove, PA is another small brewery that makes some pretty good brews._________________Rum newbie interested in experiencing what the world of rum has to offer.
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